The game started off with a Rotherham push back who immediately threw an aerial and the Charnwood/Westleigh coaches all looked at each other thinking it was going to be a tough game.

As it turned out, our lads in green started stronger with a great team goal, calmly finished by Max (Westleigh) inside the first 5 minutes.

The next 15 minutes was very much end to end with Rotherham showing some great individual skills but Charnleigh overall playing better as a team.

Rotherham popped up with a rocket goal in the roof of the net, arguably against the run of play at the time to make it 1 - 1. But the home team didn't let their heads drop and quickly came back, testing the Rotherham defence with several excellent chances with a second goal eventually coming from Will (Charnwood). Rotherham weren't without their chances and tested Basti in the home goal who simply refused to let them get a second goal with some outstanding goalkeeping on display. Shortly before the half time whistle, the ball must have touched every Charnwood stuck in the D before a clever finish from Rushi (Charnwood) on the reverse stick ended the half 3- 1 up.

The second half Rotherham stepped up and really went for it. Again showing some incredible individual skills around midfield, and getting into the home D several times with Basti coming to the rescue, but they were relentless and came back with 2 goals to make the game 3 - 3 and looking the more likely to go on and win.

But our boys dug deep and refused to give in, defending doggedly and forcing the visitors into making silly mistakes and controlled the final minutes well to see out the final score in a draw.

But that wasn't the end.

As this is a cup game, there has to be a winner, so it went down to penalty shuffles.
8 seconds, 1 on 1, attacker against keeper.

The boys chose the 5 to represent the Charnwood/Westleigh coalition and they stepped up to decide the future of our cup run.

The first shuffle didn't quite go to plan with Rushi beating the keeper but the ball just kept running away so eventually hit the outside of the net.

Basti, again standing strong to keep the Rotherham striker out with a fantastic double save for their first attempt.

Hugo took the next with an early strike past the oncoming keeper but just slipped past the outside of the right post.

Rotherham scored the next.

Max stepped up to score our 3rd shuffle with a simple shift to the right leaving the keeper behind to push into an open goal.

Rotherham scored their next, Basti forcing the forward to go right and leaving little of the goal on show, but his shot ended going in of the post to put them 2 - 1 up

Solomon next, moved to his right and lifted the ball over the keepers leg with a great finish to go level.

Rotherham scored again to go 3 - 2 up.

Will stepped up for our last shuffle. Shifted the ball left and then slipped but somehow managed to get the shot off and scored with a deflection of the keeper. A little lucky perhaps, but it still counts.

Rotherham just needed to score the next to win the game but Basti closed the forward down early and stopped the ball with his legs and the time ran out before the forward could take a second shot

3 - 3 meaning we went to a second round of shuffles but this time, sudden death

Rushi stepped up bravely after his first attempt didn't find the goal. But he made up for it perfectly doing exactly what he meant to do previously. This time the ball didn't run away and he finished nicely after a lovely skill in front of the keeper.

The final showdown saw Basti come out quickly, forcing the oncoming attacker to turn his back on the goal. With time running out he snatched at a shot which went wide meaning we won the game and go on to the next round.

A great performance from everyone and a great result against a really strong opposition.

Well done everyone
On to the next round in January